Boxing

Frank Smith rules out Joshua-Makhmudov after Allen win

Published

1 year ago

October 12, 2025

Image: Joshua–Makhmudov Not on AJ’s Path, Says Frank Smith; Fury 2026 in Play After Allen Result

Matchroom CEO Frank Smith has ruled out a fight between Anthony Joshua and Arslanbek Makhmudov following a beating by Russian great Dave Allen last Saturday night in Sheffield, England.

(Source: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)

“AJ follows his own path” – what does that mean?

Smith said Tyson Fury is one of the names that Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) is rumored to fight in 2026. Although he didn’t mention Jake Paul, he’s definitely the latter. This fight could be even bigger than Joshua vs. Fury as Jake has a much larger social media following than the aging 37-year-old Fury.

Frank is not saying that Makmudov (21-2, 19 KO) is too perilous for Joshua. Some of the shots the massive 6-foot-1/2-inch Russian hit Allen with gave AJ a lot of trouble.

Makhmudov continued to throw with tremendous power in the 11th and 12th rounds, following a twelve-round unanimous decision victory over “The White Rhino” Allen last Saturday night. Before the fight, there was a belief that Arslanbek would tire in the later rounds, lose power and become defenseless.

AJ’s question about punch resistance

This largely did not happen. In round 12 he continued to hit just as challenging as he had in the first three rounds. If Joshua gets hit by shots like Allen, it will be bad for him. It would be AJ’s second straight knockout and would spoil the money fights with Jake Paul and Fury.

“Everyone wants to fight AJ. We will obviously work with Arslanbek moving forward with the fights, but everyone wants to fight AJ,” Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said. Boxing King’s Mediain reaction to the news that Arslanbek Makhmudov said he wants to fight Anthony Joshua next, following his victory over Dave Allen last Saturday night.

Why Matchroom won’t take a chance on Joshua now

It’s understandable why Smith wouldn’t want Joshua to get even close to a fighter like Makhmudov. He is too powerful and everything is bad for him. At this point in AJ’s career, when his punch resistance seems to be gone, he would be better off fighting guys like Fury or Otto Wallin. Jake is unharmed because he is so much smaller, and the giant purse that Joshua gets will aid soften the blow of his potential loss.

Fury 2026: Still the most vital for Matchroom

“Of course it is. Everyone sees it as a huge opportunity, but… AJ is also following his own path as to what he wants to do. The [Tyson] The Fury fight is a fight that is being talked about a lot in 2026. Let’s see how things go,” Smith said.

True, Smith says Makhmoud is not in Joshua’s plans. He didn’t say who, apart from Jake, Paul will face Joshua if they fail to get the Fury fight. The “Gypsy King” is incredibly wealthy and his fortune is estimated at approx $160 million. He may not want to leave his stately home in Morecambe to return to the challenging life of a boxer and go to war with a tough boxer like Joshua.

If Tyson had the punching power of Makhmudov, I could see him returning to the ring. However, he cannot punch and would be forced to go 12 rounds to beat Joshua. It’s challenging work for anyone, especially a chubby fighter carrying over 20 pounds of excess weight around their midsection.

Bakola has been mentioned – but he doesn’t have a paycheck like Joshua’s

“He can get into massive fights,” Smith said when asked what Makhmudov can do now. “He’s in this position now, after winning in such an atmosphere on a night like this and with such a performance. He can fight Bakole.” Smith said about the option for Arslanbek.

Somehow I don’t see Makhmudov being excited about fighting Martin Bakole as a replacement option for fighting Joshua for a mega-million dollar payday. The money he will receive for fighting Bakole will not be even close to what he will receive for fighting AJ.

Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.

With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines acute analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.

Last update: 12/10/2025

Boxing

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Start Time and Live Results

Published

28 minutes ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Start Time and Live Results"

Sebastian Fundora defends his WBC super welterweight title against Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, with the card starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST Sunday. TNT and DAZN broadcast the fight live.

Updated Oct 14, 2026, 4:34 am EDT

FIGHT DAY! Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj

Sebastian Fundora

Ermal Hadribaj

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Venue: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
Card starts: 8:00 pm EDT / 1:00 am BST (Sun, Oct 18 in the UK)
Expected ring walks: 11:00 pm EDT / 4:00 am BST (Sun, Oct 18 in the UK)
Weight class: super welterweight
Scheduled distance: 12 rounds

Live results will appear here on fight night.

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj
WBC super welterweight title.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Tomoki Kameda bout is now off after Figueroa fell ill overnight.

Armando Reséndiz vs Koen Mazoudier
Super middleweight, 10 rounds.

Marco Romero vs Braulio Ferreira
Super middleweight, eight rounds.

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Boxing

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

Published

3 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

By Boxing News 24 Desk – 10/17/2026 – Comments

Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Wardley on DAZN PPV at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, October 17.

Fabio Wardley gets another crack at Daniel Dubois five months after dropping him twice but losing their first fight. Dubois recovered to stop Wardley in the 11th round in Manchester.

UPCOMING

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley

2026-10-17 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · O2 Arena, London · Live on DAZN

Daniel Dubois0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Fabio Wardley0

ROUNDDaniel DuboisFabio Wardley

Wardley returns as the challenger. Dubois makes his first defence against the heavyweight he dethroned in May, with DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate Tier carrying the rematch.

Start Time and Ring Walks

Coverage starts at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

Dubois and Wardley are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT. All times fall on Saturday, October 17.

DAZN PPV Price

The standalone PPV costs £24.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the USincluding the undercard and main event.

DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers receive the event without a separate PPV purchase.

Full Fight Card, Weigh-In Results and Expected Times

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

WBO heavyweight title

Dubois: 253.9 lbs (115.17 kg) | Wardley: 248.3 lbs (112.63 kg)

Expected ring walks: 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT

Louie O’Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr.

British and Commonwealth lightweight titles

O’Doherty: 134.12 lbs (60.84 kg) | Gomez Jr.: 134.3 lbs (60.92 kg)

Approximate start: 9:30 pm BST / 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT

Adam Olaniyan vs Dan Garber

Heavyweight

Olaniyan: 250.15 lbs (113.47 kg) | Garber: 223.15 lbs (101.22 kg)

Approximate start: 9:10 pm BST / 4:10 pm ET / 1:10 pm PT

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres

Heavyweight

Jalolov: 255.12 lbs (115.72 kg) | Dacres: 242.9 lbs (110.18 kg)

Approximate start: 8:10 pm BST / 3:10 pm ET / 12:10 pm PT

Nelson Birchall vs Levi Gilles

Approximate start: 7:10 pm BST / 2:10 pm ET / 11:10 am PT

Image: Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch Live Results and Fight Updates

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

Boxing

Solomon Dacres Confidently Takes on Bakhodir Jalolov in Epic Showdown

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Solomon Dacres Confidently Takes on Bakhodir Jalolov in Epic Showdown"

Solomon Dacres expects to stop Bakhodir Jalolov tonight, but his record offers little support for that prediction against the 6’7″ two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Jalolov has looked sluggish enough lately to give critics room for skepticism. The dominant puncher seen in the amateur ranks rarely appears in his prize ring outings, prompting a few observers to sniff an upset. Regardless, Jalolov looking flat does not suddenly transform Dacres into a top threat.

“Got to get him out of there, man,” Dacres told SecondsOut. “Mid to late rounds.”

That would be a considerable leap for a fighter whose most revealing professional result remains his first-round stoppage defeat to David Adeleye in December 2024.

Dacres describes that loss as a “blip,” but it came against the most notable opponent he had faced. Across five years as a professional, he hasn’t built a record of beating contenders that would make a Jalolov knockout seem likely.

His points win against Vladyslav Sirenko also requires context. Sirenko amassed numbers without testing himself against true threats, meaning that victory hardly proves Dacres can deal with Jalolov’s height, reach, and southpaw boxing skills.

“This fight here is beyond English title level, man,” Dacres said. “This is like world level.”

Jalolov deserves criticism for how slowly his professional career has moved and for performances that haven’t matched expectations. His Olympic medals don’t excuse that, and Dacres has an opportunity to make him work.

Expecting Dacres to win because Jalolov underwhelms ignores his own modest punch output. Managing just three stoppages across ten victories, he lacks the firepower to back up big talk.

For Dacres to land the kinds of sustained combinations required to stop someone Jalolov’s size, he has to pin him down. Jalolov does not fight like a traditional, stationary heavyweight slugger. Even when he looks uninspired, he uses lateral footwork, maintains long range with his southpaw lead hand, and angles off before opponents can set their feet.

Dacres lacks both the foot speed to cut off the ring effectively and the explosive one-punch power to make Jalolov cautious. If Dacres tries to force the issue, he’ll put himself at risk of getting caught. Pressing aggressively against a 6’7″ southpaw who excels at firing straight left hands down the pipe is asking for trouble.

Unless Jalolov completely checks out mentally and stands against the ropes to trade, Dacres will be eating long jabs and counters all night, with a Jalolov stoppage being the far more probable outcome.

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

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